Summary
Showrunner Russell T Davies reveals which episodes ofDoctor Whoviewers should revisit to prepare for season 14’s two-part finale, “The Legend of Ruby Sunday” and “Empire of Death”. After six adventures, Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday return to modern London to uncover threats from the Doctor’s past, learn just who Susan Twist’s mysterious watcher is, and realize the truth behind Ruby’s origin.Doctor Whoseason 14two-part season finale will see the return of past companions Mel Bush (Bonnie Langford), Rose Noble (Yasmin Finney), and UNIT leader Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave).
Ahead ofthe finale, Davies revealed toRadioTimeswhich past episodes can prepare viewers for the season’s conclusion. The showrunner highlightedChristopher Eccleston’s final story “Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways"andseason 7’s “The Bells of Saint John"to showcase finale stories and the adventure’s modern London setting, alongsideJon Pertwee’s Third Doctor debut “Spearhead From Space"as an introduction to UNIT stories. Davies followed these recommendations withseason 6’s “A Good Man Goes To War"for its familial reveal twist, and"The Church on Ruby Road"to see the story from a whole new angle.
Is There A Hidden Meaning Behind Davies' Doctor WhoRecommendations?
The Finale May Be A Heart-Breaking Ordeal
While Davies' recommendations to rewatch season 1’s two-part finale and “The Bells of Saint John” seem clear, his other three recommendations may carry additional meanings behind them. When creating a guide for what viewers can expect fromDoctor Whoseason 14 ahead of its premiere, Davies revealed that the story for “The Legend of Ruby Sunday” has ties to theThird Doctor’s era, meaningthe story may have explicit ties to Pertwee’s debut. However, the other two hints may carry subtle hints to heartbreaking twists in the season finale.
For “The Church on Ruby Road’s” connections, Davies revealed that forDoctor Whoseason 14’s Doctor-lite story “73 Yards”, the position of Ruby’s foreboding watcher was carefully calculated, meaning that the powers behind the hooded figure may tie into that story’s mechanics. Meanwhile, not only did “A Good Man Goes To War” feature thereveal of River Song’s (Alex Kingston) true origin, but featured theEleventh Doctor’s (Matt Smith) lowest pointas he failed his friends. As such, with Davies teasing heartbreak, the Fifteenth Doctor may suffer a similar loss.
“The Legend of Ruby Sunday” and “Empire of Death” are set to bring the answers to many long-theorized questions viewers have picked apart throughout season 14’s release. Not only doesTwist’s final character Susan Triad star as a central character, but the involvement of many allies of the Doctor hints that the stakes may be higher than anything else the season has offered. As such, viewers are sure to be just as careful when rewatching Davies' recommendedDoctor Whoepisode in hopes of finding further hints ahead of the finale’s release.
Doctor Whoreleases new episodes every Friday simultaneously on Disney+ for international audiences and BBC iPlayer for UK viewers.
Doctor Who
Cast
Doctor Who: Released on June 08, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
